Periodontal Therapy – Rock Hill, SC

Keeping Your Gums Healthy with Expert Care

While your gums may not receive as much attention as your teeth do, they’re still important to the health
and
appearance of your smile. Your gums play an important role in supporting your teeth, but their health can also
affect your overall wellbeing. Gum disease, also known as periodontitis, can contribute to various oral and
overall
health problems. Thankfully, Dr. Coombs and Dr. Ross offer expert periodontal therapy in Rock Hill to treat gum
disease and prevent it in the future.

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an infection and inflammation of your gums and supportive tissue. This disease is usually caused
by
plaque and tartar buildup resulting from poor oral healthcare. The earliest stage, gingivitis, typically shows
up as
bleeding, puffy, tender, or red gums. This stage can be completely reversed by a good oral healthcare routine
and
regular visits to our office for checkups and cleanings. Call our office today if you notice any of these
symptoms:

Red or puffy gums

Gums that bleed when brushing or flossing

Teeth that appear longer

Persistent bad breath

Change in your bite

Loose teeth

Why is Gum Disease So Serious?

While the mild symptoms that are caused by gingivitis can be reversed, if left untreated, gum disease can cause
damage to your gums, supportive tissue, and even tooth loss. Additionally, gum disease has been linked to an
increased risk of overall health problems like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and
Alzheimer’s. The sooner you can schedule an appointment for treatment, the more likely you are to avoid
some
of these more serious health risks.

Understanding Periodontal Therapy

Scaling and Root Planing

Scaling and root planing is the most common type of gum disease treatment. Our dentists will scale your teeth,
removing any plaque and tartar above or below your gumline. After you have a clean smile, they will go beneath
your
gumline to smooth out your tooth’s roots. This makes it harder for plaque and bacteria to collect under
your
gumline in the future.

Antibiotic Therapy

Dr. Coombs and Dr. Ross will typically recommend antibiotic therapy to patients in addition to scaling and root
planing for a more comprehensive treatment. It can be administered through oral medication or topical gel that
is
applied to your gums. These antibiotics reduce gum disease-causing bacteria in your mouth even when you’re
outside of our office.

Laser Dentistry

Thanks to modern dentistry, our expert dental team can use a soft tissue laser to treat gum disease. Using a
precise
beam of light, one of our dentists can remove infectious bacteria and eliminate diseased portions of your gum
tissue. This state-of-the-art technology offers a way to receive treatment without the uncomfortable dental
tools
typically used. Laser dentistry is so comfortable that most patients don’t need local anesthesia during
treatment. Plus, the laser’s sterilizing qualities keep your bleeding and swelling to a minimum for a
quick
and easy recovery.